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PLAINVILLE — The United Methodist Health Ministry awarded Rooks County Health Center a grant for a two-phase project to upgrade the current equipment and decor of RCH’s lactation room and to purchase a laptop to use for telemedicine/televideo with the lactation consultant, Avry St. Peter, RN, Doula.

The grant funds allow RCH to purchase a laptop, a second Medela breast pump, new furniture, privacy screens, a refrigerator and newborn photos from area photographers. With the purchase of a laptop, St. Peter will be able to provide 24/7 lactation support to new mothers. This enables mothers to receive consultations at home at any hour, particularly handy for those 2 a.m. feedings. The services are available to mothers who deliver at RCH or are referred to RCH for lactation consultation.

“The lactation room is available to any mom that needs it.  If someone is visiting RCH and they need to pump or breastfeed their baby, they can use the room also,” said Nancy Sterling, RN, OB Nurse Manager. “RCH employees are able to use the pumps as well while they’re at work and away from their babies.”

Through donor contributions of $19,650 and matching dollars from the United Methodist Health Ministry Fund, a total of $42,850 in grants were awarded to support projects to increase initiation and duration of breastfeeding in communities across Kansas. 2015 was the second year of Impact Funding, where members contribute funds to join the team and have their donations matched by the Health Fund to increase impact. The input of the diverse team, including several knowledgeable breastfeeding advocates, was crucial to the funding decision process. The 2015 Impact Funding Team received 25 proposals for breastfeeding grants and RCH was selected as one of 15 projects to receive funding. Sterling applied for the grant on RCH’s behalf.